Heidi, Frank debut on KLOS

Heidi Hamilton greets fans at stage show celebrating the 2010 Heidi and Frank Christmas Party, held two months after they started their own program at heidiandfrank.com.PHOTO COURTESY JAIMEE HUBERT, CAPTURING MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Heidi Hamilton was driving to work, listening to Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps on KLOS/95.5 FM. It was Aug. 17. "I was listening to Mark's final show," she said in an interview. I still wasn't sure if Brian was going to continue. And, then, he started to get choked up. I thought my life has just changed in that moment. Then my agent Eric Weiss called and Eric conferenced in Frank (Kramer). That's when we knew."

Heidi and Frank replace Mark and Brian live 6-10 a.m. weekdays starting Tuesday. Positive talks had been ongoing with KLOS' Cumulus management, but they all knew it could also go the other way, with Brian announcing he would continue with a new partner, Jill Whelan. "I really thought Brian would stay," Frank said in our interview.

KLOS has been airing "best of" Mark and Brian shows, but Heidi and Frank cut promos to air during the program's second week of repeats. Mark e-mailed he is "cheering on" the new team and will be joining Heidi and Frank for one or two segments on Sept. 5, "time not yet determined. It will be their second official show and it's Frank's birthday. I will welcome them to the KLOS family and pass the baton as it were. They will be in the KLOS studios and I will be in my North Carolina studio."

What can we expect on the new "Heidi and Frank Show"?

Frank: "I want them to feel like we are your best friend next door. We are probably the youngest duo with the most experience. We couldn't be more honored. I'm turning 42 the day after our first day on the air."

Heidi is 38. Both are in committed relationships, Heidi with a woman for eight years, Frank also with a woman for nine years. What is their must-see TV? For Heidi, it's "White Collar." Frank likes "Breaking Bad" on AMC and "Phineas and Ferb" on Nickelodeon.

Frank: "The new show will be pretty much on the same clock as Mark and Brian used. We share a large audience with Mark and Brian. We are honest. We are real. We are not a wacky morning show. We have fun, but don't take things too seriously. It will be a show where you say 'By God, is it 10 o'clock already?'"

News, previously reported by Kelli Gates, may be handled differently. Heidi said, "The way Frank and I work, we talk about the news overnight and handle it within the show."

Heidi: "We bring whatever is going on in our lives to our fans. We don't use laugh tracks. We talk about our lives. We connect with people. We stood up for two people at their wedding because they listened to us. That's how people feel about us."

Listeners may discover this "Heidi and Frank Show" more closely resembles the human touch and humor delivered by Mark and Brian for 25 years and KFI-AM's Tim Conway, Jr. who has commented that he "grew up" when joining KFI and has since been delivering consistently high ratings. Community activism will also play an important role on the Heidi and Frank show.

Heidi: "I am a blood donor and listed on the bone marrow registry. I volunteer for an animal sanctuary. We will absolutely continue the KLOS tradition of supporting the station's worthy causes and appearing at their events."

When did they first meet? .

Frank: "Heidi and I met at Star 98.7 when I was doing a show with Jamie (White) and Frosty (Stilwell). Heidi was the traffic person. I am from Indiana, so is she."

Heidi: "It was instant chemistry, back in the early part of January 1998." Heidi, Frank, Frosty were all on 97.1 FM 2000-2009 when it was KLSX "FM Talk." Fans will remember Heidi and Frank were also on KABC-AM for one year (2009-2010)

Told that some people confuse her with Jamie, Heidi said, "I think the only similarity between Jamie and I is that we are blonde."

Heidi Hamilton greets fans at stage show celebrating the 2010 Heidi and Frank Christmas Party, held two months after they started their own program at heidiandfrank.com. PHOTO COURTESY JAIMEE HUBERT, CAPTURING MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Frank Kramer and Heidi Hamilton have fun with the fans at the 2010 Heidi and Frank Christmas Party, held two months after they started their daily show at their own website heidiandfrank.com. PHOTO COURTESY JAIMEE HUBERT, CAPTURING MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Frank Kramer entertains the fans at the 2010 Heidi and Frank Christmas Party, held two months after they started their daily show at their own website heidiandfrank.com. PHOTO COURTESY JAIMEE HUBERT, CAPTURING MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Heidi Hamilton enjoys a break during the 2010 Heidi and Frank Christmas Party, held two months after they started the Heidi and Frank show at their website heidiandfrank.com. PHOTO COURTESY JAIMEE HUBERT, CAPTURING MOMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
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